When it comes to marketing, how mo(bile) can you go?

Last Tuesday’s MobileMonday Marketing Awards (confusing, right? Thanks Labour Day!) at MaRS celebrated the best mobile marketing campaigns from Toronto-area companies. Reps from five marketing companies pitched their web, SMS, phone, smartphone and browser-based applications to a live audience while a team of judges evaluated the campaigns for creative concepts, innovative use of technology and ability to meet business objectives.

Competitors had a lot to cover in their allotted seven minutes of stage time. Who was the client? What was the campaign for? How did it work? How did it evolve over time? Why did the client want a mobile campaign?

Paul Gerard from Text-ed Communications explained how they used web-based brand ambassadors, text message coupons and printed postcards to inform customers about the launch of FOX clothing stores in Canada.

Ian Collins from Silverback Media presented highlights from the Chevy Aveo 5 campaign, including mobile banner ads, a mobile website and a mobile contest to create buzz with 16-25 year olds (the youth, they love the mobile communications!).

Adrian Schauer from Vortex Mobile outlined the Beg-for-a-Blackberry campaign for Rogers, which encouraged Canadians to write, sing, record and share original songs about why they deserved a Blackberry for the holidays.

In the end, Nussar Ahmar, CEO and founder of Addictive Mobility, took home the 2009 MobileMonday Marketing Award for ARTWIST, an iPhone app for Lipton Brisk. ARTWIST gives users backgrounds, stencils and brushes to create and share original artworks using their iPhones, facebook and an ARTWIST microsite. Addictive Mobility’s prize pack included a keynote speaking slot at the Mobile Media World conference on September 15.